Milking-machine.



B.. KENNEDY.

` "L MILKING MACHINE. APPLIOATIN FILED MAB. 3, 1909.

L 933A66. H Patented spmwog.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E; KENNEDY. MILKING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 3, 1909.

933,46@ v Patented sept. 7, 1909.

'I -SHIiETS--BHIEHT 2.

Zi/1636.966; y? MWh- R. KENNEDY.

MILKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1909.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909. y 7 SHEETS-SHEET a.

my. .3..A

E. KENNEDY.l NILKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILEDMK. 3, 1909.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909. 7 SHEETS-SHEET4 4.

I lazif 6 6 4, om i 9 i R. KENNEDY. MILKING MACHINE. A PPLIUATION FILED MAE. 3, 1909.

Ptllted SSpJ. 7, 1909.

68 7 SHEETS-SHEET 5 R. KENNEDY.

' MILKING MACHINE. APPLIGATIO FILED MAR. s, 1909.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.-

Fvg 0,18*

/fff I ,1,

N lisses:

@view-A N @TATES PglENl FFQE.

F GLASGOW', SCOTLAND.

MILKING-IVIACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` ,Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

Application filed March 3, 1909'. SeriaL'No. 81,153.

double chanihered teat c'ups are employed.

and the suction is caused to .-pi1lsate "by means otsuitablemechanism operated pneu- 'matieally Under the present invention the machine is so made that, as desired, the milking operation can he 'performed with single chains loered teatcups and pulsating suction, or with double chambered teat cups having a constant suction in the one chamber and a pulsating suction in the other chamber, or by a. combination of single chambered teat -cups and double chamber-ed teat cups. The

machine is adapted for use in connection with a single or double compartment milk pail or receptable.' y

The invention comprises other features Vol" novelty as hereinafter referred to.

inorder that the. invention may be properly understood l have. hereunto appended erplanatorv drawings which show, by way ot' illustration or example. one convenient mode oi' constructing the machine.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the ma- `chine and showing part of the milk pail in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation'thereof.

3 is a plan thereof. `Fig. 4 is an inverted plan thereof. Fig. 5\is a vertical section taken on the line 5, 5, Fig. 3. Fig.

- `is a vertical section taken on the line 6, 6,

Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7, 7, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a side view ott/he valve operating gear locked in position, (andat the end of the upstroke). Fig. Sa is'an end view thereof. Fig. 9 is a similar view siowing th'e mechanism unlocked, and

at the end of the down stroke. Fig. 10 is a plan and Fig. 11 is a section showing the `valve-.'57 inyposition for the admission of` air. :Fig-12 is a plan andFig. 13 -a section show-ing the valve 57 -in position for the vacuum act-ion.4 Fig. 14 is aplan ,of the valveV itself. Fig. .15 isan invertedplan .of the same. F ig. 16 is 4an inverted plan of the cla-w or teat cup connector. Fig. `17 a longitudinal .section of the same in its correct position. Fig. 18 is a cross section taken'on the line 1,1, 11, Fig. 17. y

On the drawings, the same reference numerals wherever repeated indicate, the same parts. l 4

The machine shown on the drawings consists of a base plate 1, which is adapted to be )fitted tightly on the top of the milk pail '4 and Onthis base-plate are two cylinders 2,

3 arranged side by side and located within these cylinders are two plungers 8, 9, connecte'd by a cross head 10 which is attached to a diaphragm 12 inthe diaphragm chamber 14 mounted on top ofthe aforesaid cylinders 2, 3. Each plunger is made with a 7 chamber 15 vat its lower end which has an opening or slot 1G at one side thereof (see Figs. f1 and 7) and the plunger has an air hole or port 17 bored therethrougln'the said hole or port communicating, al one end thereof, with a downwardly extending groove 18 in the surface of the plunger and, at the opposite end, communicating with a similar groove 19. Each cylinder is made with an air inlet port 20 which has a perforated dust cover 21 and is arranged to register, at certain times with the said groove. 18. The cylinder 3 has an air port 22 which -communicates with an outwardly projecting ni'pple 23, and also a port 24, which communi- BJBERT KENNEDY, OF Giltsftlf,l SCOTLAND, ASSIGNGR TO LAWRENCE & KENNEDY,

The cylinder 2 is likewise provided with corresponding ports to '22, and 24, which communicate respectively with a nipple 23 and cock 2521. Each cylinder, 2 and 3, is openlat its lower end as is shown clearly at Figs. l. 5, and 7. O n the base 1 is an upward extension or hood 26 which is made with two passages 27, 28, therein, as shown at Figs. 4 and 6, these passages being open at their underside as shown. Fitted to this upward extension are two cocks 29 and 30 arranged to communicate respectively lwith the passages 27 and 28 aforesaid.

The-cross head 10is made with a downward extension S31-which has a slot-'32 in it atits lower end through which a lever S3 passes said lever being ulcrumed on a pin 34 carried by brackets 35 on the cylinders 2, 3,- the lever being provided with a short projecting end or boe BGwhich is adapted to be engaged by a forked catch 37 pinned, at 3S, to a\ lug `39 011 top of the extension 2G, s eel particularly Figs. -8 and 9. The opposite end ofthe lever 33 has a catch 40 to which one end of a s iral s ring 41 is secured, the other end of t e sai spring being attached to a pin 42a at one end of a bell crank lever 42, ulcrumed, at 43, in a bracket 44 securedto'the base 1. The bracket 44 is made with an arm 45 which projects out at right angles and to which is secured a pin 46 on which a sleeve 47 with an arm 48 is adapted to swivel, said arm 48 havin@ a head 49 made in one with a flat bar 50 wrhich latter passes through a recess 51 at the side of the cross head extension 81, see Fig. and also Figs.

- 8 and 9.

other hand, with the oscillating valve l57 (see particularly Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13) which when in the position shown at Figs. 12 and 13 communicates by means oitp a groove 58, at the underside of the valve 57 (see Figs. 14 and 15) with passages 59, and G0 in the plate 61 secured to the base 1 the passage 60 being in a branch to which the lower end of a rubber tube 62 is attached, the upper end of this tube being connected to a nipple G3 extending downwardly from an extension 64 (see Fig. 5) at one side of the cover of the diaphragm chamber 14. The nipple communicates by means of a passage G5, indicated in dotted lines at Figs. 3 and 5, with the upper compartment of the said diaphragm chamber the lower compartment of said chamber being open, to the atmosphere as clearly shown at- 66, Figs. 6 and 7. The passage-way 65 can be regulated by means of a screw-down valve 68. The oscillating valve 57, as shown at Figs. 14 and 15, consists of a flat plate with horns 69, 70, thereon and, at its underside, has a disk portion a and also a. slotted part 71 the slot being made for the reception of the lower end ot' the bell crank lever 42. The valve is secured pivotally in place on the Valve seat portion 72 of the plate 61 by means of a pin 73 which latter serves also to hold in place a perforated cover 74 which covers over the air inlet hole 7 5 in the valve. v

76 is a pin with roller thereon with which the horns 69, 70, of the valve can engage.

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 show a'claw or teat cup connector which can be used in connection with this milking machine when operating with 'double chambered teat cups. It is made in the usual manner with a milk tube 77 and vair tube' 78 and with milk tube branches 79 and air tube branches 8O connected respectively, by pipes, to the cham-,

bers of the teat cups. 81 is an air inlet in the following manner :.-lVhen the part 31 `r of the cross-head 10 is on its upward stroke in conjunction with the plungers 8 and 9, the slot 32 and recess 51 act on the levers 88, 50, the lever 33 being pulled up into the position of the dotted line at Fig. 9 and as shown in full lines at Fig. 8; the spring 41, as the lever travels upward immediately it passes the dead points and as it is held at' tension suddenly pulls over the lever 42, on the well-known so-called kicker principle, the position o t the oscillating valve 57 being changed. Likewise at the down stroke of the part 31 and plungers 8, 9, the lever and. spring 41 throws the lever 42 over and again changes the position of the valve 57. In this manner the` valve is suddenly changed at the end of the up and down strokes of the plungers thereby, as before stated, freely admitting air to or exhausting the air from Athe chamber 14 and so causing the reciproeating movement of the plungers 8 and 9.

The spring 41 partially may lose its tension and in order to eii'ect the throw over in such event the bar 50 is provided, the projections 50", 50, on said bar positively .striking the pin 42a of the bell crank -2 and throwing it over in conjunction with the spring 41.

Now prcsuniing it is desired to milk two cows simultaneously with double chambered teat cups a'constant suction being maintained in the inner chamber of each teat cup and a varying or pulsating'suction`in thc outer chamber of each teat cup (we may here say that the teat cups may be oi any suitable, usual, and well-known construction) then the modus operan/Iz' is as follows: The base plate is firmly secured on the mouth of the milk pail 4, as usual, and is fittedtight thereon by means oi' a rubber ring 85, the'base plate forming the lid or cover of the pail. The milk pipe leading from the claw or pipe connector of Athe teat cups for the one cow is connected to the nose of the cock 8O while the air pipe leading from the same claw or pipe is connected to the nose of the cock In rr similar manner the milk pipe of the connector or claw of the teat cups for the other cow is connected to the cock 29 and the air pipe to the llfx @sence engage the motor mechanism and allow the y lowing air to pass into the outer chambers When the same to operate. The suction in the milk pail thereupon acts directly on the underside of each plunger-8, 9, and draws them downward the combined areas of said plungers 8 and 9 being less than the area of the diaphragm 12 which, as before stated, is open to the atmosphere at its underside. oscillating Valve 57 moves through'the telve gear 33, 41, 42, to the position shown at Figs. 12 and 13, which corresponds with the downward position of the plungers-8 and 9 and thepositionY of the valve gear shown atFig. 9, then,`

owing to the suction in'the milk pail, the air in the diaphragm chamber 14 is exhausted therefrom through the passage pipe .62, passages 60 and 59, groove 58 in the rValre 57 and hole 56, the arrows in Fig. 13 indicating the rush of air downward tothe milk pail. faction of the air in the chamber 14 the diaphragm 12 is pulled upward and, at the same time, pulls up the plungers 8 and 9 with the result that the opening 16 at the bottom of each plunger comes opposite the passages in the cocks 25, 25a, and allows the suction in the pail to act within the outer chambers of the teat cups and cause a rarefaction of air therein therebyfallowing the' lining or inner walls of said cups to expand in the usual manner. v'When the plungei's reaclrthe top of their stroke 'the valve 57 is autonia-tic ally thrown over to the opposite position indicated at Figs. 10 and l1 by the action of the valve gear as will behereinafter eX-" plained, and brings the air inlet hole 75, in the valve 57, over the hole 59a leading to the passage 59`in the plate 1, with the result that air rushes in through the perforated cover Y74, see arrows Fig. l1, along the passage 59, up the pipe G2 and so to the diaphragm chamber 14 and destroys the vVacuum therein with the result that the pluiig'ers .are again drawn downward by the suction due to the vacuum within the pail and, when drawn downward, the passage 17 in conjunction with the passage 19 in each plunger establish communication between the air inlet orifices 20 and the cocks 25, 25, thereby alpf the teat cups and reduce the Vacuum therein with the result that the greater Vacuum within the inner chambers of the teat cups As a result of this rare- 'causes the iniier wall or lining of said cups to squeeze the cows teats. Of course, ay constant suction is maintained within the inner lchambers of the teat cups and on the cows teats owing to Ithe fact vthat the cocks 29 and 30 are always in communication with the. in-

terior ofthe milk pail;

lt will therefore be seen from the foregov ing that the mechanism is such that a constant vacuum may be maintained within the inner chambers of the teat cups while a` 'varying Vacuum can be established in the outer chambers of the teat cups so as to cause the said cups to vhave a. pulsating action-on the cows teats.

lf so desired the milking can be carried on with the double chambered teat cups'but with the constant suction in the outer chainbers of the cups and the varying'or pulsatcups the milk tube for the teat cups of the one cow is securec to the nose of the cock 25 and an airpipe is connected to the nozzle 23 and also to an air inlet branch on the claw or teat cup connector. rlfhe connections for the tea-t cups of the other cow are made in a similar manner to the cock 25L1 and nozzle 23a. As the operation is the same in both cases l will only describe that for one cow. lVhen the apparatus is set'in operation and the plunger 9 (operating in conjunction with the cock 25 and nozzle 23) ascends to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. ,7 then the recess 15 is in full communication with the cock 25 and the full or maximum suction' acts at the teat cups, at .the same tinte a regu? lated amount of air is supplied by the hole 20, the passage 18, 17, and nozzle 23 to the teat cup claw, or connector and drives the milk tothe milk pail without a surging or ,churning action taking place in the milk tube. The air passes from the nozzle 23 through the teat cup connector and rushes down the suction pipe to the cock 25 and milk pail carrying the milk along with it. l-Vhen the plunger descends to the position` shown in f-ull lines at Fie. 7 then the suction in the milk pail is cuto from` the teat cups and the air from the nozzle 23 thevacuum in said cups being reduced to theminimum by the admission of air through the hole 20, passages17 and 19 to the cock 25. lt will thus be seen that the air supply through the nozzle 23 is only permitted when the maximum de ee of suction is acting 'on the cows teats anrdrawing the milk therefrom, and also thatfa pulsating or Varying suction is caused to act on the cows teats through, (1st) the full opening of the passage 24, Fig. 7, to suction so as' to give the maximum Asuction and then, 72nd) the closing thereof ica llO

Sie

to suction, and, the admissioniof a small amount of air to givethe minimum suction. The nozzle'28 is only used for supplying air 'to the teat cup connector, or to the teat cups it so desired, for the purpose of driving the milk into t-he milk pail Without surging or churning in the milk pipe. The small perforated grating y21 serves to exclude dust and dirt from the airpassage 17 and the plunger 9. Precisely the same action takes place with the plunger 8 and its connections as Will be readilyunderstood.

The milk .discharge when double chambered teat cups are used passes from the one cow through the opening 27 in the hood 2G and from the other cow through the opening 28 in the hood 26 the milk of the one cow being separated from that of the other coviT owing to the 'fact that the pail is divided into two compartments by means of the partition 8l Which partition passes between theopenings 27 and 28.A

When the apparatus is operating with the single chambered teat cups then the milk from the teat cups of' the one cow passes lthrough the chamber l5 of the plunger 9 /into the Aone compartment of the milk pail Whilethe milk from the. other coiv passes by the chamber l5 in the plunger 8 into the other compartment ot the milk pail.

lhen operating With double chambered teat cups a claw or teat cup connector such as shown at Figs.l 17 and 18 is preferably used7 the air supply for driving the milk into the milk pail being admitted through a small air opening S3 in the teat cup connector.y I have found in practice that it is an advantage to make the air tube 78 of the teat cup connector also with a small air opening 82 which admits a restricted amount of air to the air chambers of the teatcups and reduces the vacuum therein more quickly thereby giving a more decided action. Ot' course any suitable well-known claw or teat cup connector can bc used and instead of having an airihole 89, a small air admission Valve can be arranged in lieu thereof.

lt will be seen that with this apparatus lst. That when double chambered treat cups are used milking can be carried on by means ot a constant suction in the milk chambers of the teat cups and a variable or pulsating suction in the air chambers of the teat cups when the milk pipe is connected to the noz- 30 (or as the case may be) and the air pipe connected to the nozzle (or 25 as the :ase may be). 2nd,. That the milking can be carried on with a pulsating or varyingl suction in the milk chambers of the teat cups and a constant suction in the air chambers of the teat cups the milk pipe in thisbeing connected to the cock 25 (or 25a as the case may be) and the air pipe being connected lo the cock 3() (or 2S) as the case may be). 3rd. 'llhat the milking operation can be carried on by vmeans of single chambered teat cups the milk pipe in such case being connected to the cock 25 (or Q5 as the case ma),Y be) and the air pipe being connected to the nozzle 23 (or 23a as the case may be). Lith. That, if so desired the milking operation can be carried on with double chambered teat cups for the one con1 and single chambcred teal'y cups for the other cow.

` Vvlhen milking with single chambered teat cups, air is admitted to the claw only at high vacuum and the air inletl to the claw and the milk outlet both being closed at low vacuum.

When it is desired to use the apparatus for milking only one con' the cocks at one side can be closed and thoseat the other side alone employed.

It is tound in practice that the people Who generally perform the milking operation have no mechanical training and make mistakes in connecting lthe milktube and the air tubes and in some cases thereby cause considerable trouble. 7With thisr apparatus no damage can be done by mis-connection of the tubes as if the milk tubeI is com'iected by mistake to the cock 25 instead ot to the cock 3() (or the cock L7 instead ot' the cock 29) then the milk will still 'lo'w to the pail under pulsating suction through the opening in the plunger. A gaii1,'slio1ild the mistake be made ot connecting the milk tube to the cock 30 instead of the cock 25 or the cock 29 (instead of cock 25") then the milk would still lionv to the pail through the openings in the hood 2G. The connection of a pipe to the nozzles 23 or 23 would give no suction so that milk could not be drawn .into said nozzles, the nozzles being simply air inlet nozzles.

The mechanism for operating the oscillating valve 57 is an improvement upon that at present in use as it is not so liable to get out oit order. i

Trlaving now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Lett/ers Pa tentis l. In a pneumatic milking machine adapted to operate with double chambered teat cups,` means tor producing, as desired, either a constant suction in the milk chambers of the teatcups and a variable suction in the air chambers thereof or vice versa.

2. In a pneumatic ,milking machine adapted to operate with-both single and doublel eeaaee' chanibered teat cups, means forl producing; as desired, either a constant suction in the milk chambers of the double cliainbered teat cups and a variable suction in the air chambersv thereoior vice versa and means for producing a variable suction in the single chainbered teat cups. I

' 4. In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising, in combination, a base,'two cylinders thereon, a plunger in each cylinder for causing the vacuum to vary at the teat cups, means for connectingthe plungers together so that they operate simultaneously and pneumatically operated means for reciprocating theplungers.

In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising,- in combination, a base, two cylinders thereon, a plunger in each cylinder for causing the vacuum to vary at the teat cups, means for connecting the plungers together so that they operate simultaneously and pneumatically operated means connected with said connecting means for reciprocating the plungers. i

-G. In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising, in combination, a base, two cylinders' arranged 'vertically thereon and side by side, a plunger in each cylinder for causing the vacuum to vary at the teat cups, means for connecting the plungers together so that they operate simultaneously and pneumatically operated means for recprocatin the plun'gers.

7. Ina pneumatic mi gking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising, in combination, a base, two cylinders arranged vertically' thereon and side -by side, a plunger in each cylinder for causing the vacuum to vary at the teat cups., a cylinder on topl ot said plunger cylinders and common to both,

tion, a base, two cylinders each open at their upper and lower ends mounted on said Vbase andhaving suction and air ports therein, va plunger in each cylinder having port-s therein capable of` registering with 'the ports of the cylinder, means connecting the two plungers together, and pneumatic means for operating the plungers simultaneously.

9. .In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising, in combina- 'tion, a base, two cylinders each open at their upper and lower ends mounted on said baseandv har/ing suction and air ports therein, a plunger in each cylinder havin a hollow chamber at its lower end and which is open at one side andthe bottom thereof and an air passage above said chamber, means connecting the twol plungers together, and pneumatic means for operating the plungers simultaneously.

l0. ln a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising, in combination, a base, two cylinders each open at their upper and lower ends mounted on said. base Vand having suction and air ports therein, ,a

plunger in each cylinder having a hollow chamber at its lower end and which is open at one side and the bottom thereof and a cross air passage above said chamber said air passage having downwardiy extending. eX-

tensions at each end thereof, means connect-f ing the two plungers together, andv pneupi'ieumatically operated means 'for recipro eating the plungers.

12. ln a pneumatic milking machine, having a milk receptacle in which a vacuum can be created and which is divided into compartments, a pulsating ap'pratuscomprising, in combination, a base plate adapted to fit the mouth of the receptacle, cocks on the vbase plate coiimunicating with eachcompartment of the receptacle, two open ended cylinders arranged vertically'side by side of the base plate and each having air and vacuum ports therein, a plunger in each cylinder having air and vacuum ports therein, a cross head connecting2 the plungers together, a cylinder of larger diameter on the top of the aforesaid vertical. cylinders, a diaphragm in the large cylinder for operating the plungers, and means for operating the diaphragm pneumatically.

13. In a pneumatic milkin@r machine having a milk receptacle in whic a vacuum can be cre-ated and which is divided into two compartments, a pulsating apparatus, 'comprising, in' combination, a base plate adapted Vto fit the mouth oi. the' receptacle, cocks on the base plate communicating with each coinpartment of the receptacle, two open ended cylinders arranged. vertically side by side en the base plate and each having air and vacuum ports therein,V a nozzle connecting with the air port of'each cylinder, a cock connecting with the vacuum port of each cylinder, a plunger in each cylinder having air and vacuum yorts therein, a cross-head connecting the p ungers together, a. cylinder of larger diameter on the top of the aforesaid' i as ' vertical cylinders, a diaphragm for operating the plungers in the large cylinder, and means for operating the diaphragm pneumatically. i

14:. In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising, in combination, a base, two cylinders thereon, a plunger in each cylinder for causing the vacuum to vary at the teat cups, a crosshead connecting the plungers together, means for operating the crosshead and' plungers, a bar dependin(y from the crosshead, a lever operated by sai bar, and means for locking the lever.

15. In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising, incombination, a base, two cylinders thereon, a plunger in each cylinder for causing the vacuum to vary at the teat cups, a cross-head connect ing the plungers together, rnieans for operating the crosshead and piangere, and means for locking the crosshead ano plungers.

' 16. In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism, comprising, in combination, a base, two cylinders thereon, a plunger in each cylinder for causing the vacuum to vary at the teat cups, a crosshead connecting the plunger-s together, means for operating the crosshead and plungers, a har depending from the crosshead, a bracket on one cylinder, a lever 'fulcrumed in said bracket and operated by said bar, and a catch for locking the lever.

17. In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsatmg mechanism comprlsmg, 1n combination, a base, two cylinders thereon, a plunger m each cylinder for causing the vacuum` to vary at the teat cups, a crosshead connecting the plungers together, means for operating the erosshead and plungers, a bar depending from the crosshead, a lever operated by said bar, a bracket on the hase, a bell crank, a spring connecting the lever and bell crank, and a vacuum and air valve operated by said bell crank.

18. In a pneumatic milking machine, pulsating mechanism comprising, in combination, a base, two cylinders thereon, 'a plunger in each cylinder for causing the vacuum to vary at the teat cups, a crosshead connecting the plungers together, means for operating the crosshead and plungers, a bar depending from the crosshead, a lever operated by said bar, a bracket on the base, a bell crank, .a spring connecting the lever and bell crank, a bar with two arms and operated by the bar of the crosshead for positively actuating the hell crank, and a vacuum and air valve operated by said bell crank.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT KENNEDY. Witnesses:

. A. D. FrrzrATmoxi,

MARGARET FINDLAY YOUNG. 

